ADVANCED forensic technology could reveal the fingerprints of the Lockerbie bomber.

Lawyers for convicted bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who died in May, had wanted to use the new technique to show their client was innocent.

Cartridge Electrostatic Recovery and Analysis can find fingerprints on metal and a source close to the Libyan’s defence team said parts of the suitcase that contained the bomb and an umbrella could have yielded vital clues.

The source said: “They wanted to see if the bomber’s prints were on there.”

Dr John Bond, who developed the technique, said he was asked to examine evidence but the work was cancelled when Megrahi dropped his appeal and was released from jail.